Hillingdon 8th dec

[Rob Taylor]

Any one going ? and can anyone give me a lift - if its not pissing it down

thanks.

[Rob C]

yes and yes if yes

hang on, that 's if you're a 4th. Probably not hanging around for long after I finish the 4th cat race...

[Rob Taylor]

cheers rob iv have sent u a pm

[Andrew G]

Race if it's raining.

I did my first race at the begining of this year and it was peeing down all day. I was going to wimp out but Marek said to go as the weather will put a lot of people (particularly the nutters) off.

He was spot on and it was the safest Chertsey race I did, all the nutters stayed at home and it was the only 4th cat race I did there without a crash in it. I don't think the two were unrelated.

Just make sure that you take a spare set of clothes to change in to after the race, and a cap to wear under your helmet to keep the worst of the rain out your eyes.

Good luck chaps.

[Keith]

So I wasn't the only one daft enough to try their luck in today's 4th cat race in the wind and rain. My first "proper" race. I counted 18 out today, including Addiscombe's very own Rob C and Rob T.

The entire race was dominated by the howling gale in our faces on the back straight. Each break generally got caught on the back straight with the rider left out on the front to regret having made the pack work to catch up. The first break went by the end of the first lap with probably 3 or 4 other attempts. I even had a go myself.

With the rain lashing down, the steward brought the 5 laps to go board out early (he did threaten to do so if the weather deteriorated further in his briefing), after 25 mins rather than the advertised 35. I don't think anyone was sorry to see its early appearance.

A serious break went with 4 to go, and this was one not to miss. The two of us were soon joined by a third. We worked reasonably well together to keep the chasing bunch at bay. It's interesting to see others riding styles. One (without club kit) was strong but wasn't as good at tucking up after his turn, losing out on the chance of a rest. The other Evesham Wheelers rider was obviously experienced. The casual flick of the elbow gave this away.

Into the last bend with daylight between us 3 and the pack. I lead out first, and it was obviously going to be a 2 horse race. I eased off the gas to let him by and caught the tow into the final bends, but he was just too strong for me. He managed to pull away enough to raise his arms over the line. Second ain't bad though.

As we squelched around a couple of slow down laps I realised just how young the guy I'd lost to was. I got my arsed kicked in the sprint by a 15 year old. Oh well it's all downhill from here then!

I don't know the Robs' placings, but I reckon they both probably got points. I was too cold and wet to hang around chatting afterwards.

[Stu Merckx Man]

fantastic. what a result for your first race!!

we all thought you stood a good chance of getting a good place.

great right up too. i had to stop myself glancing down the page to see where you had come. only 1 point to go until 3rd cat then.

you will have no problem.

nice one keith!

[Andrew G]

Great result Keith, well done.

Don't worry about the kid he's probably a freak like Stu . Eric Rowsell used to kick arse at Palace in the 3/4 as a 15 year old, then moved on to mix it up the front in the E/1/2 race as a grand old 16 year old. His sister's bloody quick too.

[Marek]

Nice one Keith, stick the results up in the results section when they come out. Must have been tough out there today with a lot of spray i imagine, but wet racing is actually in my opinion safer at 3rd and 4th cat level as everyone takes it over easy on the corners.

Promotion next week, then you can lay off and wait until you are back from France for the real racing season.

Really pleased for you.

Cheers

Marek....

[-Adam-]

Nice one Keith...

So there's another name on the ACC 3rd cat list... almost!

[Rob C]

It's an Addiscombe 2,4,6...

Rob T 4th and myself in 6th. Got my BC license this week so happy to put some points on it this soon!

BTW, the lad that won today was the winner of the under 16 race last week.

[Andrew G]

Top result, well done Robs.

[Stu Merckx Man]

robs's's's thats fantastic. what a result for addiscombe!

[KeithK]

Well Done Keith, see you the big boys soon.

In the E/1/2/3 the bunch split within four laps.

It really hurts me to say I was with the lead group and didn't notice a gap open four riders ahead untill we were on the back straight. I got past them but into the headwind I could not get across, and worse, I blew and nearly got shot out the back of the bunch as they came past. AAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH the frustration was almost to much.

With three laps to go we were lapped and five riders would not let them go and only jumped in and got stuck into their sprint.
It has to be said there is some cheating barstewards out there. I protested and hope they at least get put to the back of the field if not DQ'd

The only good thing for me was that I was so wound up nobody was comming past me in the bunch sprint. Lesson learnt-warm up properly in case it starts really fast.

[Sylv]

Well done chaps!

Looking forward to the photos of you soaking wet

[KeithK]

I took so long writing I didn't see the update. Very well done Gents